BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – The fifth-seeded Rams from the University of Mobile (Ala.) beat the sixth-seeded Pirates of Park University (Mo.) 2-1 on Tuesday night to capture it’s first national title, winning the 2002 NAIA Men’s Soccer National Championship held at Lovers Lane Soccer Complex in Bowling Green, Ky. While it was Peter Fuller’s first title with the University of Mobile, it was the second of his career as he captured one in 1992 with Belhaven College.

“This one is different than the first,” Coach Fuller said. “The first I didn’t at all expect. I felt that in my coaching career somewhere along the line I would win a championship but I didn’t expect it at that particular moment. I think this one is a little more of a satisfaction because I know how far this group had to come in such a short period of time.”

The Rams got out to a 1-0 lead when Mike Fricke scored in the 21^st minute off a Stephen Shirley assist that was flicked on by James Gledhill. Typically playing more of a defensive role throughout the season, Fricke’s goal was a welcomed surprise.

“There were no real surprises tonight other than Mike Fricke’s goal,” the proud Rams coached explained. “What a great blessing from God for a guy like that to score a goal. Because that’s a guy that does everybody else’s dirty work and he’s done it all season long. To get a goal in the national final, he really earned it.”

Mobile scored again 12 minutes into the second half when tournament MVP, James Gledhill, found the back of the net off an assist from Carron Williams.

Reminiscent of the previous night when the Pirates were down 2-0 to Lindsey Wilson and came back to force a sudden death win, Park University didn’t throw in the towel.  In the 73^rd minute, Park University’s Ross Stride scored on an unassisted goal, cutting the lead in half at 2-1. 

Despite being out-shot 19-9 by Park, Mobile successfully weathered the storm to hold on for the national championship.

“It’s been awesome working with this group,” Coach Fuller said, holding back tears. “This has been one of the best coaching experiences in my life. There are a lot of boys who came to Mobile on August 12^th that became men throughout the fall. That’s probably the neatest thing and I’ll cherish it always. Watching them grow up has been a blessing to me.”

With the loss, Park finishes the season with a 21-3-2 record and a second-place finish.  With the win, the University of Mobile Rams end their season with an 18-4-1 record and the 2002 NAIA Men’s Soccer National Championship.